Sliding window for automobiles



Oct. -5 1926.

llll 1.

1,601,843 G. A. BIGELOW SLIDING WINDOW FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Feb. 16, 1924 III/arr? ey the arrows on Patented Get. 5, 1926.

UNITED STATES GERRET A. BIGELOW, OF PIEDMONT, CALIFORNIA.

SLIDING wrnnow ron AUroMoBILEs.

Application filed February 16, 1924. Serial No. 693,263.

This invention relates to the sliding windows of automobiles, and its object is to simplify the operating parts and to dispense with metal springs for holding the windows secure against vibration and rattling.

Another object of the invention is to fill the space Where the Windows are ordinarily open slightly when they are not fastened in a given position, thereby making them secure against wind and rain at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of securing the windows in any given position which will also aid in preventing them from rattling as novmetal parts will contact with metal unless they are permanently secured together.

Anotherobject of the invention is to-provide means whereby a key may be used to secure any of the windows either from the inside or from the outside of the case.

Another object of the invention-is to provide means whereby locking one window when both are in the concealed position will secure both of them against rattling.

Another object of the invention is to provide the top with windows of such character as will close the opening at the stationary part of the top snugly at'all times when the windows are forward.

Gther objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which the same. reference numeral is applied to the same portion throughout, but I am aware that there may be modifications thereof.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation or, an automobile equipped with these sliding windows, both being shown in the forward position,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the two tracks for the windows, I

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the two tracks where they lie in the same vertical plane, looking in the opposite direction from the line 3-3, Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a view of the window tracks where they are placed to hold the windows side by side, looking in the opposite direction from the arrows on the line 4.-4, Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 .is a view showing the means for securing the outside window when both of them are in the closed position,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one sash all being substantially alike,

Fig. 7 is a view of one of the cam and pressure block stirrups,

Fig. S-is a view of one of the same stirrups at right angles to Fig. 7, Y

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional viewsof the bottom edge of the slidable sash showing two forms of devices for making the bottom edges of the sash 'Weather tight while allowing the necessary downward movement thereof to prevent rubbing when they are mloved and to allow for locking them in p ace.

The wheels of the vehicle are shown at 1, the body at 2, the top at 3 and windshield at l. The sl'idable windows of which only two are shown, are indicated at 5 and 6. When in the forward position, they are alignedwith each other and are pushed down on the upper edge of the car body by suitable means which hold them firmly, small flanged plates 7v and 8 being secured on top of the body to hold the windows aligned, the front window having a rearwardly projecting channel to receive the forward edge of the back window to shed the rain.

The top is made on rails thesame as 10, at each side, bows .11 in such number as may be desired being used --to connect the side rails for the support of the fabric cover 12. There is also a longitudinal rail 13 secured to each rail 10 and a cover-board 13 connected to the several boWs by'screws 14 and cleat 15, and also connected to the rail 13 by a plurality of screws 16 to complete the interior finish of the car. This board may be covered with cloth inthe usual way and may be removed at any time by removing its screws as it forms only stiffening and a surface to secure the interior upholstery in place.

The front rail consists of a single fulllength straight channel rail '17 with one long leg 18 and a short leg 19. This channel is secured to the rail 10 by its longer leg 18 with screws 19, at as many places as may be desired.

The upper railconsists of a channel 20 similar to the longer one with a short leg 21 and longer leg 22. This rail, however, has its central portion so curved'that it is securedto the rail 10 in its front half and secured to a spacer 23 on the rail 10 in its back portion, the short legof the rail being cut away at the curved portion'thereof as indicated by the bracket 24 to allow sufficient looseness for the window slide to pass from one position of the track to another so that when the windows are in the back position they will lie side by side in the back part of the top. 7

The slide 25 for the back window is shown in Fig. 2 detached from the window to illustrate the way its ends are beveled to insure the proper smooth engagement thereof with its track where the short leg of the channel is cut away, note 26, 27, and it will be seen that said slide is long enough to hold the window straight even though a portion of one leg of its supporting rail is cut away to allow the slide to pass the bend.

The windows are all substantially alike except that the forward window has the channel 9 to receive the front edge of the rear window and the rear windows are pro vided with the beveled slides 25 and with special hangers which allow the tracks to be superposed one above the other.

Each sash consists of a bottom rail 28 and front and back rails 29, 30 connected thereto and to the hollow top rail 31. The sash carries a glass Each sash has a fibre rail 33 at its lower edge which is held spaced from the rail 28 by. two rubber strips 34, 35, the arrangement being such that when the window is pushed down to tighten it that the rubber will be stiff enough to hold the window without moving enough to make an unsightly job, and it will always be closed to the car side though not in con tact therewith when the window is released.

Each sash at the front is supported by an inverted channel plate 37 somewhat like the rails, said channel having a long leg 38 secured to the window and a short leg 39 to prevent cutting the anti-rattling strip 40, that strip and the strip 41 supporting the window on the slide 42. These strips extend substantially the entire length of the window and they are stiff enough to lift the window so the strips 33 will barely be Out of contact when the windows are to be moved.

Inside the upper window rail of each window, near the ends there are two eccentric cams 4:3, 44: connected by a rod 45, each having rubber pads 45' to prevent rattling. These cams fit inside metal boxes or stirrups having four sides 46, 47, 48 and 49, and said boxes are secured to the inside of the top of the window rail by flanges 50, 51. Each box contains a rubber block, each window having two of the blocks 52. The blocks 52 areeach suitably secured to a fibre facing 53 to take the wear of its operating cam.

The shaft supporting the front cams of each window is squared as shown at 54, 55,

' ing rail.

and it can be reached through a hole in the sash rail either from the inside or the outside with a suitable key. I

The rear sash, in each instance, is supported by a channel plate 56 with one short leg 57 and with a leg 58 long enough to afford the clearance to allow the back window to come under the front sash support- In order to prevent the sash from rattling, the inside rail 13 has cloth tapes 58, 58", applied thereto where the slides might touch it.

This channel has the supporting slide 25 connected thereto by the two rubber strips 58, 59. Inside the upper window rail there is the same operating mechanism as was previously described, but the hard rubber block 60 resting on the cam 43 is secured to a fiat plate 61 which may be suitably covered with fabric to prevent squeaking which has two short flanges 62, 63, the up per flange holds a rubber pad at just under the channel 20. A fabric loop 65 holds the plate 61 tightly against the member 58, The cams in the windows are operated through the holes seen at 66, 67, Fig, 1, and the key may be used either inside the machine or outside the same.

In operation it will be seen that when the cams are turned they will press on the underside of their respective tracks and will spread the rubber strips used to support the windows. This will force the window hangers laterally against the bar 13 at the top and will force the windows down on the strips 33 swelling the strips 34, 35, slightly.

The front window alone may be pulled out, in which event both windows can be locked wherever they happen to be placed, however, if both are retracted both are locked by locking the inside one, there being a lever mounted under the windows near the front and near the back thereof so that when the inner window is pushed down the lever will push upon the other window bringin the blocks 52 tight up against the undersice of the track 17.

In Fig. 10, there is shown a modified form of joint for the bot-tom of the sash in which the sash rail 81 is provided with a metal channel plate 82 for the glass 80, and the bottom of the rail has a rubber fabric strip 83 secured thereto at its edges to allow the necessary downward movement of the window to tighten it in place.

lVhat I claim is:

1. An automobile top enclosure, comprising the combination with an automobiletop of a pair of sliding windows therefor, a pair of tracks superposed for a part of their 7 length, means carried by each window to lock them at any portion of the lengthof the tracks, a resilient support extending the entire length of each window, and a resilient edging extending the entire length of the lower edge of each window, whereby when the windows are secured in any given position they are weather tight at top and bottom.

2. An automobile top enclosure, comprising the combination with an automobile top for sliding windows, tracks to carry the windows to be stored side by side at the rear of the top, resilient means carried by one window to lock it, and a pivoted plate upon which the locked window bears to lift the other window to secure it in a fixed position, whereby both of the windows are secured in such position. i I

3. An automobile top enclosure, comprising the combination with an automobile body, of a top, horizontally slidable windows therefor, means, including a double track, to permit them to be stored side by side at the back of the top, or to be placed in alignment at the front and intermediate part of the body to form a complete enclosure, resilient means carried by each window to lock them in any desired movement along the track, a resilient support for each window extending the entire length of the window, and a resilient edging extending along the entire length of the bottom of each window,'whereby a weather-proof enclosure is produced when the windows are extended and locked,-

4. An automobile top enclosure, comprising a top, slidable windows therefor, means carried by each window to lock it in any adjustment, an inverted L-shaped plate forming a support extending the entire length ofeach window, a resilient support carried by each plate, tracks upon which said resilient supports bear, and means carried by each window to depress them to secure them in any given adjustment along the length of the tracks.

5. An automobile enclosure, comprising a top, slidable windows therefor, supporting rails carried by the top, a plate extending the full length of each window to close the space over said windows, a resiliently supported strip carried by each plate to bear upon the supporting rails, one window to lock it in the retracted position, and a pivotally mounted plate to lock the second window alongside the first window when both of the windows are in the retracted position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of February, A. D. 19%.

. GERRET A. BIGELOVV.

means carried by 

